"Exploring the contradictions surrounding modern-day femininity and its complicated relationship with feminism and postfeminism, this book provides a history of femininity in popular culture since the 1960s, analysing its shifting relationship with (post)feminism and concepts of female victimization. Through an examination of a range of popular female and feminist icons and paradigms, the text offers an innovative and forward-looking perspective on femininity and the modern female self. The book marks an important cross-generational moment in feminist thinking that challenges us to re-think previous conceptions of femininity and debate critical issues that remain unresolved in contemporary culture: does femininity necessarily imply powerlessness and victimization? Can femininsm and femininity co-exist? What emerges between these previously opposed extremes?" -- Book cover.

Addressing the contradictions surrounding modern-day femininity and its complicated relationship with feminism and postfeminism, this book examines a range of popular female and feminist icons and paradigms. It offers an innovative and forward-looking perspective on femininity and the modern female self.

This text comprehensively surveys and critically positions the main issues, theories and contemporary debates surrounding postfeminism.

Accessible, introductory student guide which identifies key feminist approaches to popular culture from the 1960s to the present.. The only introduction to both feminist cultural studies and feminism and popular culture published in the UK.. Presents its information in a reader friendly series of case studies on: women's film romantic fiction soap opera consumption and material culture fashion and beauty proactices youth culture and popular music. Will appeal to students across a wide range of disciplines as a variety of popular cultural forms are discussed.

This collection of original essays looks at the way in which experiences and representations of femininity are changing, and explores the possibilities for producing 'new' femininities in the twenty-first century. The volume includes a Preface by leading feminist scholar Angela McRobbie.

Alison Horbury investigates the reprisal of the myth of Persephone - a mother-daughter plot of separation and initiation - in post-feminist television cultures where, she argues, it functions as a symptom expressing a complex around the question of sexual difference - what Lacan calls 'sexuation', where this question has been otherwise foreclosed.

This book examines how women are discussed and depicted visually in popular media. Stressing the importance of a historical approach, the text includes a detailed study of continuities and changes in dominant myths of femininity, especially in the transition from the modern to the postmodern period and explores the influences of feminism and consumerism.